The owner of the Nickel and Dime store, Mr Ahmed, confirmed he has bought the premises and will be moving part of his business to the building.

Nickel and Dime already own and occupy the former Living Images building, also in the High Street, but Mr Ahmed said that he would be trading from both shops from April.

He also told the Herald that the new shop would be selling hardware and household goods.

The owner confirmed: "We will be keeping both shops with the new one selling hardware and various other things including pictures and mirrors. We hope to move in there by April."

The disused Woolworths store had been the subject of speculation for some time with the local grapevine suggesting that two retailers in the Abbeygate Shopping Centre were poised to move into the premises.
There are currently a number of units in the Abbeygate Centre standing empty and it was rumoured the owners, the Co-operative group, were keen to sell.

But last month the Co-operative group moved quickly to deny these claims, adding they were negotiating new leases with retailers in the centre, who rent the units from the group.

A Co-operative spokesman told the Herald at the time: "These rumours are unfounded as we are fully committed to the Abbeygate Shopping Centre in Arbroath.

"We are currently in the process of negotiating the leases with the retailers in the centre as some of these are coming to an end in February."

However the Abbeygate was dealt a further blow on Friday when a major High Street chain closed their branch in the centre with the loss of six jobs.

Clarks Shoes, which was located in the centre, closed its doors for the last time leaving another unit standing empty in the complex.
On Friday branch staff were clearing the shelves and displays while a sign in the window directed shoppers to nearby Clarks stores in Montrose and Dundee.

It is thought that the store in the Abbeygate closed because Clarks' lease of the premises was not renewed as there is no suggestion the company is experiencing financial difficulties.